A path, especially ancient ones, which are distinguished by their deep grooves, rock cuttings, width, dry stone walls, cobblestone pavements, etc., have been preserved even for millennia, balancing and coexisting with the environment, vegetation, weather conditions, and usage by humans and animals. Starting even the smallest intervention on such a path should be done with the importance of maintaining this balance in mind, to ensure its functionality, not only in the present but also in the future.
- Vegetation, animals, or even humans may have altered the course of a path, usually creating shortcuts and bypassing the helical routes that traditionally facilitate loaded humans and animals. It's important to spend some time to observe where the path actually leads and not, for example, mistakenly follow a goat trail that may be misleading.
- Once we have ascertained which is the path, we put markers to differentiate it from goat trails and shortcuts.
- When necessary to use a hoe or any digging tool to remove vegetation, we must know that the soil at that point will be washed away by water.
- On a path that moves parallel to a slope, it's best not to make any interventions on the downhill side. Even moving a stone can create a vertical gully, destroying the path and altering the environment.
- As much as possible, we make the necessary interventions, hoeing, and pruning, from the uphill side, allowing the path to develop on the opposite side a barrier with the vegetation and soil it creates and accumulates.
- Additionally, when required, we strengthen this barrier or even create it when it doesn't exist, with stones and wood, and creating space for the passage from the uphill side.
.jpg "Trail to Archamboli, from Thymio") |
| Trail to Archamboli, from Thymio |
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